New bridge deck lifted into place

The deck section of a new footbridge at Cullen has been hoisted into place.

A crane lifted the superstructure into position over the Burn of Cullen at Seatown, on the western outskirts of the coastal town earlier today.

The 62ft steel span was fabricated in Yorkshire before being transported north by lorry.

Work on the £400,000 bridge – which will replace the original bridge built by Cullen Town Council in the 1930s – began in March and will be completed next month.

The project has been funded by Moray Council, with the design work carried out in-house by the council’s civil engineering consultancy in collaboration with the principal contractor Balfour Beatty.

The footbridge provides a vital link for the Cullen community since it is the only safe pedestrian access between the town, the local golf club and the popular beach area.

The new bridge is 15ft upstream of the old bridge – the condition of which has deteriorated rapidly in recent years - and the decking  is approximately one metre higher above ground level to reduce the risk of flooding at high tide.

Although the main part of the contract is close to completion, ancillary works will continue for around another month during which access will be maintained to the annual travelling fair which is due to arrive in late June or early July.